Collapsible gate



Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ice.

JOSEPH l't. JACKSON, JR., F`BOSTQN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO A. BL EDEL- VATB, COMPAEIY, INC., Oli? NEW` YORK, N. YQ;

A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COLLAPSIIBLE GATE.

Application filed February 24.-, 1927. Serial No. 170,616.

its collapsed' position Fig. 4t isa similar plan view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2; j j

:I Tig.` 5iis aplansection takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. l; n

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectionoi'f` the lower end of one of the supporting members andthe adjacent portion of the threshold; and i j Fig. 7 is asection taken onthe line 7--7` of Fig. 6. j y

ln the drawings a gate is shown comprising a plurality otupright supporting members A1, each including spaced parallel channel L mem bersl 3,- the iianges oi which are desirably turned inward. The channelsicomposmg `the supportiiig n'iembers larel arrangml to straddle a track 5 arranged directly over the openingthat is-to be `guarded by the gate `and rollers 7 are pivotallyf securedby studs Sto the `upper ends of said channels and desn'ably therebetween to roll along the top oi the track 5 The studs 8 constituting the pivots for said rollers also channels. Y l l The lower end ofreach of the supporting members includes an elongated follower 9 which is secured between the `lowerends ot the channels `8 and'projectsa slight distance serve as spacers for said l into a groove 1l formed in the threshold 13 ot thc doorway or opening. The followers 9 do not touchithe bottonioi the opening in said threshold, merely contacting with the sides et said groove,` thus providing ample clearance whereby said members may be moved easily alongthe track 5.

Adjacent supporting members et the gate are connected together by parallel sets of links Y @sale lapsed or extended` members.

l5 two of which sets are shown betweenweach adjacent pair j oi' upright members, `although it is to be understoodthat the invention is r not limited to the number or positions of links shown. Each set et links is in the tormlota toggle composed of members 17 and 19, each having pivotal `connection at 2l with the other and. another pivotal connection at 23 with one of the upright supporting memberslg j The connecting pivot 2l for the two links 17 and 19 is connectedhereiniby aber 25 with thesimilarlpivot 2l of the otheretoggleior the same pair of supporting:.members la In i other words, `this bar 25` extends Aperpendicularly `parallel with and midwaybetween the twoV upright members l connected by-said Consequently as `these adjacent lupright members are moved toward` andi away from each other thetoggles 151 will lbe colrespectively and" the bar 25 moved vertically so that :when ther said supporting members l are :folded torpositions substantially close together the bar 25` will lie therebetween and approximately lill; the remaining: space separting. said supporting The channels 3`3are spaced-hirV enough apart to receive the links 17 and 19 therebetween so that when collapsedsaid links will lie evenly without twisting or cramping. the supporting members. j .j

Desirably the links forming saidtoggles l5 are never straightened siiliiiciently toybring their axes `in pertect horizontal alignment and so will neven causethe gate inembersto become lockediintheir open positions or prevent the easy closing thereof. .Byi arranging theA toggles lat` least in pairs Vbetween each adjacent pairot supporting members vand (':onnecting` them by the bars 25,0it' will be apparent that a state ofparalle'lism will be maintained between thebars 25 and `each of the supportingmembers and'likewise between corresponding toggle memberssothat regardless ont the point to whichpressure may be applied atthe edge of thelgate to openthe same, said upright members will move `to collapsed or open position without materially shitting' from their parallel relations.` It is however to be understoodithat the number o titoggles :for connecting adjacenthpairsrof upright members is notlimited to that shown herein.

' plates are pivotally interposed between each pair of adjacent members 1 and their proximate perpendicular edges are pivotally connected together or hinged as at 31 to swing in opposite directions.y The remote edges of the pivotally connected plates are connected for example at 33, `to the nearest upright supportingvmembers 1 of the gate so that as saidl upright members are moved toward or away from each other the plates 29 being hinged together in accordion-shaped fashion -will fold compactly together as shown in Figs.

2 and 4 or open out to nearly straight position -as shown in Figs. land 3. Desirably the two folding sections of the hinge 29 which form 5 the covering between adjacent supporting 30v members 1 are never allowed to straighten absolutely and so never become locked in a position thatl would prevent the gate from being readily closed whenever desired. Furthermore said plates 29 need not be folded close enough together to pinch or injure any one,

althougha smooth surface will always be presented to resist crowding or pushing.

The guard member 27 in the present exam- `ple' is `shown extending only part way of the kgate-in a vertical direction but amply covers the portions of the gate that are likely to be ltouched by the passengers in the car, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the extent to which this guard member has been'shown.

To insure greater freedom of movement of 'l the upright members 1 lengthwise Vof the traek', brushes 35 are secured around the foli' lowers 9, said brushes having relatively long bristles 37 for extending into'the groove 11 and relatively short bristles 39l at the sides of said followers to'wipe along the top of the track or threshold 13. The bristles 37 and 39` are desirably composed of steel or other stiff material to insure'the cleaning of mud and other sticky substances from the track, and said bristles are mounted in holders 41 adj ustably secured herein by thumb screw 43 to the upright members 1 and are capable of being readjusted from time to time as said bristles become shortened by wear.

The bottom of the channel 11 is provided at'intervals with openings 45 through which dirt and other foreign substances may be discharged by said brushes.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment herein shown.

Claims:

1. A collapsible gate comprising in conibination, upright supporting members, guiding means for said supportingr members, at least two sets of toggles interposed between the upright supporting members of each pair of adjacent members, means connecting the toggles of each set of upright supporting members together to cause said toggles to move in unison and folding guard sections carried by said supporting members to guard substantially that portion of one face of the gate lying between the two sets of toggles.

2. A collapsible gate comprising in conlbination, upright supporting members, guiding means for said supporting members, upright relatively short bars alternating with said supporting members, and at least two sets of pivotally connected links interposed between adjacent upright supporting members opposite ends of each of said sets of links being pivotally connected respectively with adjacent upright supporting members, said link sets being connected centrally with said upright bars and being maintained thereby in parallel operative relation with each other and collapsible guard members carried by said gate members between said sets of links.

3. A collapsible gate comprising in combination, a series of laterally movable spaced supporting members, toggle links interposed at separated points between each pair of adjacent supporting members of said series, means independent of said supporting members and connected at the elbows of said links for causing said toggle links to move in unison and collapsible guard means carried by said supporting members between said toglgles to prevent bystanders getting caught between said relatively movable supporting members.

4. A collapsible gate comprising in combination, a series of laterally movable spaced supporting members, two sets of toggle links interposed between each pair of adjacent supporting members of said series, means independent of said supporting members for causing said toggle links to move in unison and a collapsible guard for said gate including vertically arranged relatively inexible pivotally connected sections carried bv said supporting members and arranged to fold in accordion-like formation during the collapsing of said gate.

5. A gate comprising in combination, a series of laterally movable upright supporting members, means interposed between said support-ing members for maintaining the latter in constant parallel relation during their lateral movemets7 means for guiding said supporting members during lateral movement including a grooved track, and brush means carried by said supporting members for Cleaning said track.

6. A gate comprising in combination, a series of laterally movable upright supporting members, means interposed between said supporting members for maintaining the latter in constant parallel relation during their lateral movements, meanslor guiding said supporting members during lateral movement including),` a grooved track, and brush means adjustably carried by at least one of said upright members to remove dirt and dust from said track.

ttl

JOSEPH R. JACKSON, Jn. 

